AMERICAN BOARDING PIKES and BOARDING AXES DURING the WAR of 1812 By: Alan Boyd

Home , Lance, Naval boarding, Spontoon, Workbench (woodworking)

AMERICAN BOARDING PIKES AND BOARDING AXES DURING THE WAR OF 1812 By: Alan Boyd

Boarding pikes and axes are relatively simple weapons compris- longer pike and was situated so that the points were roughly in the ing of a haft of wood and two to five pieces of metal, yet they can be same location. When several of these columns were placed next very deadly. To the average collector, the axe and pike do not have to each other in a row, they made quite a formidable wall of sharp the artistic or stylistic appeal of an eagle head pommel silver hilt points that was used to deter an enemy’s cavalry or infantry. The sword nor the flash of a martial pistol or musket. These utilitarian configuration of wooden ships did not lend to the same tactical weapons take a special person to have a soft spot in their heart for configuration on the deck at sea; quarters were too tight and per- admiring them. Their pragmatic tasks did not make them prized sonnel too limited to employ this tactic. Additionally, throw in the possessions passed down through generations mounted over the standing and running rigging and the 16-foot pike was essentially fireplace; “That was your great-great grandfather’s boarding axe non-functional in the maritime environment; therefore the length when he was on the United States Frigate Constitution” was prob- was shortened to approximately 8 feet. Essentially half the length ably never uttered at the kitchen table. Therefore these weapons of the land based pike was functional on the deck of a ship; it was are often overlooked and could probably be worked into a Rodney long enough to reach out to the enemy but short enough that it Dangerfield routine about how they “don’t get no respect.” So could be handled without becoming caught in the rigging or on a much overlooked are they that the book “American Axes1” does mast or accidently hitting one of your shipmates. The majority of not even mention the American Naval Boarding Axe. They were the boarding pike hafts are circular in cross section and have a con- not completely neglected though since Harold L. Peterson, an sistent diameter. Several of the later made pikes have a bulbous early ASAC member, wrote an article on the boarding axe2 which haft that narrows where the forward hand would hold the haft, and became a chapter in his “American Indian Tomahawks” book.3 it additionally had a wider bulb just after the point, which helped They were also discussed in Boarders Away with Steel by Gilk- stop its penetration into your adversary. erson4, and Small Arms of the Sea Services by Colonel Rankin5, and American Polearms by Brown.6 So it is time to take another look and perhaps clear up some erroneous conclusions from these references about boarding pikes and boarding axes. Boarding axes were used hard and when broken or worn down until they could no longer be sharpened, they were discarded. Boarding axes that were brought home with a Sailor became useful tools around the house, shop, or farm and were often turned into a regular axe on the workbench or left in the barn. Boarding pikes were a bit more difficult to be brought home since they were approximately 8-foot long and fairly obvious when they were being removed from the ship. Many of the boarding axes and boarding pikes were lost when their vessel was sunk or sold off as surplus items, including in some early Bannerman catalogs. Therefore, true examples from the War of 1812 period are fairly rare and difficult to study as a collection. Figure 1. US War of 1812 boarding pike, Type I pike, leaf point, top and side view. Note langlets on right side of image. Boarding Pikes What is a Naval boarding pike? It is an approximately 8 foot long wooden haft that is circular in cross section with a metal point on one end and a wooden ball or rounded end on the other. Before we go into detail on these aspects we should consider its origin. The boarding pike is a variation of the land based pike. Differ- ences are the boarding pike is shorter and does not have a metal shoe on the base of the wooden haft. The pike, which had been around for centuries, was going out of favor as a weapon on land and no longer in standard use within the Federal period armies. The land based pike was often 13 to 16 feet long and would be used to create a wall of points by having several pikemen standing behind a kneeling pikeman in a column; each person had a slightly Figure 2. Revolutionary War Pike Leaf Point top and side view. Note no langlets present Reprinted from the American Society of Arms Collectors Bulletin 120:8-20 120/8 Additional articles available at http://americansocietyofarmscollectors.org/resources/articles/ the point (¼ inch), and then has a straight line tapering to the point about 5 ½ inches up (Figures 5 and 6). It should be noted that the cross section of the blades also changed as the leaf (Type I) has one side much wider than the other; the edges are thin and there is just a bit of thickness to the center. The transition point (Type II) has more Figure 3. Type II pike, transition point. thickness and begins to take on a diamond shape. Finally the spike (Type III) has all sides the same width thus becoming square in its cross section; the corner of the square can either be in line with the langet or rotated 45 degrees so that a smooth side of the pike is in line with the langet. As shown in Figure 2, the Revolutionary War naval boarding pikes were simply attached to the end of the pike by a conical base and pinned/riveted to the wooden haft. During the War of 1812 the attachment had been refined to have langets, approximately 10 inches long, attaching the blade to the top of the wooden haft by metal rivets. The langets make the pike stronger and less likely to Figure 4. Type II Pike Transition Point with langet. Note width of break at the end as there are two to three rivets that are holding the sides is different point onto the haft. Additionally it strengthens the pike so the point is less likely to be cut off by a cutlass or an axe. The langlets are often flush with the wood on the pike (Figure 7). The Type I (leaf) pike has its langets only partially inset into the wooden haft (Figure 8). It is not conclusive if this is a remounted haft or the original haft. It had been in England for many years and is reported to be taken from the United States Frigate CHESEAPEAKE during her loss to the HMS SHANNON; only about a dozen of these boarding pikes Figure 5. Type III pike spike point (tapered) All sides are are known including those in the Koch collection.8, 9 same width

Figure 7. Langet is inset flush with wooden haft.

Figure 6. Type III pike spike point , tapered (top) and no taper (bottom). Figure 8. Leaf langet partially flush with wooden haft. Type I, II, and III Boarding Pikes and their Construction The point of the pike falls into three major categories: leaf, transition and spike. They have been designated Type I, II and III respec- tively by Gilkerson.7 The leaf version (Type I) is an earlier design and a bit more work to manufacture (Figure 1). Leaf pikes were hand crafted during the Revolutionary War and did not have langets (Figure 2). The leaf is similar to a beech tree leaf or the spade suit on a deck of cards; from the base it expands out in a circular man- ner till it reaches its widest part and then the width begins to narrow. Eventually the inflection changes and tapers up to the point. The expansion is about 1 ½ inches and the narrowing is about 3 ½ Figure 9. Ball or rounded bottom finish to pikes. inches for a total length of 5 inches from the neck of the blade. The transition (Type II) is how the point changed from a leaf to a spike configuration (Figure 3). The transition has a very small expansion / shoulder about 1/4 inch and then instead of tapering up like a beech leaf, it narrows in a straight line transition to a point in about 9 inches. This is similar to a dagger or straight dirk blade (Figure 4). The final configuration is a spike (Type III), the US version is a Figure 10. Metal cap on bottom - land pike or spontoon. four sided square that has a very small expansion from the neck of 120/9 The bottom finish on the boarding pike will usually have either Differences from other Hafted Weapons a wooden ball on the end or rounded finish to the haft (Figure 9). Differences between boarding pikes and other hafted weapons This is different than the land based pikes which usually have a become fairly evident upon visual examination. The lack of a metal cap on the bottom to prevent splitting of the haft and to assist metal cap on the haft’s bottom and the significantly shorter haft are in sticking the pike into the earth (Figure 10). Boarding pikes are differences with the traditional land pike that are discussed above. not normally stuck in the ground and on board a ship the metal cap The British boarding pike of the period had a spike point but it could create a spark and cause a fire or explosion. Additionally the only had three sides (Figure 12). Therefore it was triangular in metal cap would mar the wooden deck. Remember the boarding shape compared to the American square shape. The spontoon is pike was used when the ships were alongside each other, which another hafted weapon from the period, but the boarding pike does normally occurred after several broadside exchanges of cannon not have the spontoon’s small cross bar since that would likely be fire. Spilled powder would often be on the deck or buckets for caught in netting or lines (Figure 13). a subsequent reload; therefore preventing sparks was a prudent design. Use and Tactics Even though the naval battles at sea during the War of 1812 started with exchanges of cannonballs, it may not matter if who received the worse end of the barrage. Remember John Paul Jones’ action of the BONHOMME RICHARD vs the SERAPIS; the BONHOMME RICHARD was sunk but John Paul Jones won the fight by sailing away in command of the SERAPIS. Therefore Figure 12. Triangular spike point British boarding pike. the hand to hand combat of a boarding action could turn the tide of the battle, so prior to pulling alongside the other ship, the Sailors would often raise netting to help prevent the enemy from being able to easily board their vessel (Figure 11).10 The netting meant that one could not easily swing over on a line and land on the deck ready to fight. Instead it meant the Sailors would have to climb up the rope netting and then jump or climb down. While the person was climbing up the net, they were exposed to someone reaching Figure 13. French and Indian War/Revolutionary War spontoon. out with a boarding pike to push them off or at least severely injure them. The boarding pike fit this function perfectly and this tactic Shipboard Quantities was considered one of the primary uses of the weapon. The Gilkerson’s general rule of thumb for the quantity of pikes The boarding pike was not just a defensive weapon, it was in- is two pikes per gun.13 The initial three frigates had one hundred frequently used offensively. It was useful in a transition to close pikes delivered and each had 44 guns. quarter combat. It doesn’t require time to reload between uses and it doesn’t fail in rain. It was used in daily practice for the art and 100 delivered to Frigate CONSTITUTION 12 Aug 1797 discipline of war on the United States Frigate PHILADELPHIA.11 100 delivered to Frigate CONSTELLATION 31 Mar 1798 Finally it is relatively silent in initial use which is one reason it 24 delivered to Frigate UNITED STATES 5 Apr 1798 reportedly was selected as a weapon for Stephen Decatur’s night- 76 Frigate UNITED STATES (John Barry, Command USN) time raid to board and burn the PHILADELPHIA from the Bar- 12 Jul 1798 14, 15 bary pirates.12

Therefore Gilkerson’s general rule of thumb initially appears close especially when rounded to integers (2 vs 2.3 will both be 2) for the number of pikes per gun, so maybe they carried a few spares (12 pikes). The boarding pikes were often stored around the mast and not just alongside the cannon, so it makes sense that there was not an exact correlation. But when the 29 March 1798 Estimate of Building, Rigging and Equipping three Ships of War (Figure 14) to carry 22, 20 and 16 guns together with the cost of manning and victualling the same for 12 months is referenced there is a much different number from the general rule: 16

22 Guns 100 Boarding Pikes 20 Guns 100 Boarding Pikes 16 Guns 600 Boarding Pikes (60?)

Figure 11. Netting to prevent boarding.10 Note the 600 pikes to 16 guns is a 37.5 pikes per gun which seems a bit high since there weren’t 600 Sailors in the crew. This is believed to be an error in the handwritten version and most like- 120/10 ly should be 60 verses 600. Even so these averages are between four to five pikes per gun, a bit more than just rounding tothe nearest integer. Note in the dates where the initial one hundred are delivered to each of the initial three frigates there are several more that are signed for receipt by the Navy, so it appears that they either had 300 extra spares in inventory or preordered the initial outfitting for the next three frigates. Figure 15. Boarding pike US marking.

Figure 16. Boarding pike NYW (Navy Yard Washington) marking.

Some have stated that the boarding pikes were not officially marked by government inspectors until 1816.17 Unfortunately this statement of fact does not withstand the test of time since there is a boarding pike that was recovered from the NIAGARA that has markings. Yes, the NIAGARA was sunk for preservation in 1820, so it could have been equipped with boarding pikes from the 1816 contract, but the inspector initials were JT for Captain Joseph Tar- bell, who died on 24 November 1815.18 As the sword and martial pistol collectors know, the day an inspector left his job inspecting the federal arms, then his die stamp was removed from service. It is presumed that Tarbell’s ghost did not come back to haunt the Washington Navy Yard to mark a few boarding pikes in 1816. The vast majority of naval boarding pikes do not have the manufacturer’s name stamped on them. It is not apparent why they were not so marked when there are smaller items within this period that have the manufacturer annotated (example numerous copper nails used in the construction of the frigates). Philadelphia, Penn. and Middletown, Conn. were two of the locations that boarding pikes Figure 14. Estimate of building rigging and equipping ships were made. Daniel Pettibone, a gunsmith and cutler, made pikes of war.17 during the War of 1812 and Nathan Starr made 2,000 pikes in 1808 at a price of $0.75; which were inspected by Isaac Hull.19, 20 Wash- Markings ington Navy Yard is the most prolific location of inspection (and Markings on the boarding pikes are not as consistent as those on possible later manufactory); many remaining boarding pikes have muskets, rifles or swords/cutlasses that the Federal Government NYW stamped on a face of the pike’s spike. accepted. The markings, when present are typically a combination of 1) US, 2) the Navy Yard that they were inspected (or possibly even manufactured), 3) the manufacturer, and/or 4) the acceptance inspector’s initials. Boarding Pike Markings United States – U.S. (Figure 15) Washington Navy Yard – NYW (Figure 16) Boston Navy Yard – NYB New York Navy Yard – NYNY Nathan Starr – Manufacturer Prahl – Manufacturer Inspectors HHP - Henry H. Perkins (Inspector of Starr swords 1810-1816) JT - Joseph Tarbell (Inspector WNY till “approximately 1805 to 1812”) (NIAGARA pike on the Great Lakes) Figure 17. Boarding pike spike cover marked USNY (United States LS - Luther Sage (Inspector 1813-1836) Navy Yard) Boston. 120/11 Period Preservation against the Elements ket flints, and pistol flints as three separate items in the inventory. Conditions at sea and in port were harsh and fought against the Also similar differences are done for entries about cannonballs that Sailors to preserve the boarding pikes for continued use. Some are of various weights. These flints, especially the musket flints were whitewashed or painted on the wood and many had leather and the Charleville style musket flints, are roughly the same size covers for the spike while stored. Figures 5, 7, and 9 show period with much less than an inch difference. Yet the same storekeeper 27 whitewashing. The leather covers have a string to retain them on would list 8-foot and 3-foot boarding pikes as equivalent items? the boarding pike and many covers are marked with the Navy Yard On the John Harris letter one would think the Government would where they were inspected (or manufactured, Figure 17 has USNY, be willing to pay a bit more for the additional 5-foot of wood on United States Navy Yard, Boston). the haft for the full length of boarding pike over a quarter pike.

Figure 19. John Harris letter on boarding pikes 11 Aug 1797.27

Figure 18. Boarding the Philadelphia by J.O. Davidson.

Quarter Pikes So far this article has focused on the 8-foot naval boarding pike, but a variant – the 3-foot quarter pike – does exist. These pikes have a large leaf point (8 1/8”) and a turned wooden handle (28 3/8”) and have been referenced in a few books21, 22 which reference a receipt from the United States Frigate CONSTITUTION’s initial outfitting. Several other period records refer to the initial frigate’s outfitting as boarding pikes. There is an illustration of Decatur’s Figure 20. Quarter pike. assault to retake the PHILADELPHIA which has two Sailors car- rying short quarter pikes (Figure 18). The illustration has the pre- Could it be that they were referencing the same item and that War of 1812 Sailors in Civil War uniforms, about 55 years before the quarter pike is a boarding pike that was used at quarters (battle they were designed, and the covers for the gun ports lower down quarters)? The Maritime Museum in Norfolk has their quarter 28 like a drawbridge vice rising up like the actual ones did on the pike displayed as “Edged Arms, Pike, Boarding, Reproduction“. PHILADELPHIA.23 Subsequently there has been some study of The quarter pikes in Figure 20, are japaned and show signs of the quarter pikes which indicate that they are recent manufactured wear. Their leaf heads are riveted onto the wooden haft and are items that started during the CONSTITUTION’s refurbishment in constructed from steel, similar to items made during the War of the early 1900s; they were presented to volunteers, donors, and 1812. Some of the quarter pikes have screws (instead of the riv- VIP visitors.24, 25 The letter from John Harris to Joshua Fox on 11 ets) attaching the head onto the haft and the blade is made out of August 1797 is another example (Figure 19).26 Remember these aluminum. Those are definitely from recent manufacture. It is are the same personnel that list musket flints, Charleville style mus- 120/12 not possible to tell if the wear on the quarter pike in Figure 21 is from 200 years ago or “only” from the last 100 years. The leaf head boarding pike had long transformed to the spike pattern before the Civil War. Therefore there is no definitive evidence that would withstand a lawyer’s cross examination to irrefutably prove or disprove that quarter pikes did not exist during that period, but N. Flayderman the publisher of Brown’s American Polearms had an “aged” one from his collection “thoroughly dismantled” which Figure 21. Type I was instrumental in proving that the quarter pikes are recently American boarding axe. constructed and not from the War of 1812.29 The majority of the available information about quarter pikes implies that they were manufactured after the War of 1812. Although there are a few antique dealers out there with quarter pikes in their inventory that will disagree; but it also might explain why their quarter pikes are still in their inventory. Boarding Axe It is time to discuss the next hand based weapon – the American Naval Boarding Axe. Like the boarding pike, the boarding axe doesn’t get much respect; one person transcribing the old records from their meticulous script handwriting lists them as boarding aces in the Federal Papers.30 So unless the mischievous Sailors were ordering a bunch of extra playing cards to cheat during a “friendly” card game, the quartermasters were ordering replace- ment boarding axes. What is a boarding axe? It is the naval variation of a land based axe or tomahawk. The boarding axe is approximately two feet in length and its head approximately one foot in width from tip of the spike to the edge of the blade. The hafts have a circular cross-section and often terminate with a ball or oblong ball at the end away from the haft. The ball at the end ensures that Figure 22. Type I Axe rivet perpendicular to wedge. the axe does not slide out of your hand, especially if you are using it to climb up the side of your adversary’s boat to attack on their deck. The blade portion of the boarding axe is directly descended from its land based tree felling cousin. It is longer than a hatchet but not as long as a logger’s felling axe. The spike or pick on the opposite side of the axe blade is similar to many of the tomahawks of the period that were used by Native Americans, Ranger units and frontiersmen. There are three recognized types of US boarding axes from the War of 1812 period; similar to boarding Figure 23. Type I axe rivet through wedge. pike categorization.31 All three types of American axes have one or two teeth on the side opposite of the blade or on the underside ing axes. There are two horizontal teeth that point back towards of the blade. This is a distinctly American innovation and is not the haft. The blade is constructed by folding two pieces of metal present on boarding axes from any other country. The teeth made around the haft and stronger piece of metal is folded in to increase it easier to snag a burning line or sail and throw it overboard with- the strength of the blade. The pick (spike) extends from the op- out having to physically grab it with your bare hands. We must posite side of the haft. The pick was in itself a deadly weapon, remember that the boarding axe was primarily a tool aboard the perhaps more lethal than the axe blade since all of the force of a ship except when engaged in close quarter melees or shore excur- swing was concentrated on the point of pick (spike). There are no sions, in which it was a very effective weapon. Additionally you langets to hold the metal head of the Type I’s axe head onto the could use the teeth to catch the edge of another ship’s rail that you haft and the axe is capless, so that you can see the top end of the were climbing up to board and attack. The main differentiations haft. The metal head was attached by having a wedge of wood between the three types are the construction of the metal blade and inserted into the top of the haft to hold the head’s ring in place, a their use of langets. The teeth made the American boarding axes practice that is still used on many axes today. This is how the head easily identifiable as far back as 1932 by Mr. G. S. Laird Clowes, of the Type I axes marked VIM are attached; axes made by Fred Director of The Science Museum, South Kensington London.32 Hoffman, Philadelphia, also include a rivet. On Hoffman’s axes there are two holes in the metal ring around the haft - where the Type I Boarding Axe rivet was inserted. The rivet pierces the wedge; with the intention that the wedge and the head were not to come loose. There are dif- Type I axes have a blade that is much wider than the support ferent configurations of the rivet on two axes examined. The first that goes back to the haft. Its look is similar to a rectangular flag Hoffman Type I axe has its rivet piercing the wedge’s center. The hanging down from a pole (Figure 21). The space on the back side rivet and the wedge are both the length of the haft’s diameter and of the blade is where the first teeth appeared on American board 120/13 meet at a perpendicular angle (Figure 22). The second Hoffman triangular than the Type 1’s rectangular flag. The blade is a sin- Type I axe has its rivet piercing the length of the wedge. Again gular piece of metal with two langets used to attach the blade to the rivet and wedge are along the length of the haft’s diameter but the haft using two rivets. The axe head appears to be one integral essentially take up the same space (Figure 23). casting for its construction. The Type II construction seemingly places it in between the Type I and the Type III. The Type II adds langets to the axe head, which is fairly similar to the Type I construction. Additionally it is a much simpler construction than the more intricate construction of the Type III axe head described be- low. The Type II’s haft has wood removed so that the langets are flush with the surface of the haft. Since there is not a back portion of the blade, the singular tooth is cut into the bottom of the blade that points downward; the tooth is parallel to the haft and point towards it like the Type I’s teeth. (Figure 24).

Type III Boarding Axe The Type III axes also have a tomahawk blade shape, similar to the Type II (Figure 25). Additionally the Type III boarding axe has one tooth in the same location under the blade as the Type II boarding axe. The retaining head has a much more complex design than the Type II. There are two or three pieces to the Type III boarding axe head – depending on the variant. This had not been noted in the previously cited references but there are two cap variants – solid cap and split cap. The solid cap is one piece that has two langets (Figure 26); the split cap has two pieces – each Figure 24. Type II Figure 25. Type III American piece has one langet (Figure 27). Both versions then go inside the American boarding axe. boarding axe.

Figure 29. Panoramic X-ray of Type III US Figure 26. Type III boarding axe displaying boarding axe, solid cap. narrowing of the internal haft moving towards the top of the axe (dark vertical area in the center of the image is the haft, note that it tapers going towards the top) with the langets on either side (the parallel white lines on either side of the haft). The white square Figure 27. Type III in the middle is a rivet. boarding axe, split cap.

Figure 28. Side by side split (left) and solid cap (right) Type III boarding Figure 30. Type III axes. boarding axe reinforced socket bowl; note the reinforcement between the blade and socket.

Type II Boarding Axes The Type II axes have blades that are more like a tomahawk blade. The blade tapers back to the support and looks much more

120/14 Figure 31. CONSTELLATION Gunners Stores Inventory 20 Jan 1802 front and back (right). ring of the axe blade and pick and over the haft (Figure 28). The langets are then attached by two rivets through the haft. The lip of the solid cap (or the spilt cap) hold the axe head onto the haft. The ring with the axe blade and pick has the cap’s lip on top and there is a wooden lip at the bottom; these two lips with the langets’ rivets firmly hold the axe in place. One of the split head variants had been taken apart a few years ago, unfortunately pictures were not taken of the internals, but it was reported that the wood tapers up to a very narrow piece. Most of the Type III axe inside the ring is solid metal going down to the langets to provide the strength and retention of the head. X-rays of two Type III axes on their original hafts show the narrowing, as seen in Figure 29 for one axe on its original haft. It is noted that there are at least four solid cap vari- Figure 32. British boarding axe, ants of Type III boarding axes in existence in private collections; note the absence of teeth on the the majority of Type III boarding axes are of the split cap variant. blade.

Variants Gilkerson recognized a variant of the Type III boarding axes that is different than the solid cap/split cap variant identified above.33 The second variant is how the axe head and the pick attach to the ring around the haft. This variant is called reinforced socket bowl and it has a reinforced connection of the axe head and the pick (spike) to the ring (Figure 30). It should be noted that this is very similar to many Peace Pipe Tomahawks that are attributed to the late 18th Century (examples from auction catalogs or Peterson’s tomahawk book34).

120/15 The two different variants identified above for the Type III boarding axe imply that there were at least three different manufacturing runs of the Type III boarding axe and possibly three manufacturers. One manufacturer appears to have made peace pipe tomahawks for the “Indian Trade” and reused the reinforced Figure 33. Type I blade, F socket bowl for their boarding axe. It is interesting that all three Hoffman marking. variants do not have a visible manufacturer’s mark, but all were inspected at the Washington Navy Yard. The alignment which required the langets inlaid and flush with the wooden haft with a narrow tapering required a large amount of skill. The bottom of the Type II and Type III boarding axes consist of a ball or oblong ball turned from the same wood as the haft. Parallel lines around the diameter of the ball are often included. Many boarding axes also have a hole drilled towards the end of the haft for a leather strap to go through which allowed the Sailor to prevent loss of the axe overboard by having the lanyard around his wrist. Figure 34. Type I blade US Shipboard Quantities Hoffman (no first initial F) Boarding axes are given a general rule of thumb for the quantity marking. of two axes per gun.35 Tench Cox received 350 boarding axes on 27 Aug 1797. The initial three frigates had 100 axes delivered and each had 44 guns. These numbers are the same quantities as the boarding pikes.

100 delivered to Frigate CONSTITUTION 29 Sep 1797 100 delivered to Frigate CONSTELLATION 31 Mar 1798 100 Frigate UNITED STATES 12 Jul 179836

Note that boarding axes and boarding pikes were delivered to the United States Frigates CONSTELLATION and UNITED STATES on the same day. On 20 January 1802, the Gunner’s Stores Inventory for the United States Frigate CONSTELLATION lists the inventory as 75 boarding Figure 35. Type I blade axes (Figure 31).37 Therefore there was a loss of at least 25 axes over VIM marking, John McLean inspected. a four year period. No mention is given for the 25% reduction in inventory; whether they were broken, lost over the side or taken home as a useful tool. Many possibilities exist especially since it is easier to hide a 2-foot axe while going ashore than it is for an 8-foot pike. The gunner’s inventory indicates that the boarding axes were used and had a fairly high turnover rate.

Markings

Markings on boarding axes are a bit different than those on most The markings on Boarding Axe: other naval arms (muskets, pistols, cutlasses or blunderbusses). One can consider the American boarding axe’s markings to consist of both United States – U.S. the stamped letters and the teeth. Their teeth are distinctly an Ameri- Washington Navy Yard – NYW can marking; no other countries used this innovation on their naval Boston Navy Yard – NYB boarding axes (Figure 32 for a British example). Additionally you New York Navy Yard – NYNY don’t see any teeth on the peace pipe tomahawks of the period. This Manufacturer 38 marking has been identified for many years. Hoffman/F Hoffman (Type I) (Figures 33 and 34). The other more standard markings are similar to the markings on Company name (Reputedly there is a marked Type II axe, but it boarding pikes. They have the U.S. and sometimes the manufac- has not been examined) (Type II) turer’s name, the inspector’s initials and/or the navy yard where the Inspectors inspection occurred. It is interesting that the city of manufacturer was VIM – John McLean (Commissary of Military Stores NY 1801-02) not stamped similar to firearms procured during this period. (Type Is) (Figure 35). JT - Joseph Tarbell (Inspector WNY) (Type IIIs) (Figure 36). Ord’ce 1852 [No inspector initials during reinspection](Figure 37) 120/16 The US stamp is fairly self-explanatory; marking the US Navy The most compelling information provided by the markings as the axe’s owner. It is fairly prominent and much more obvi- comes from the inspector initials. These markings restrict the pe- ous to the casual observer than the British broad arrow’s mark for riod to when the officer was actively engaged in inspection duties. the Royal Navy (Figure 38). The vast majority of surviving US Most inspectors would hammer their initials into the piece, some Naval boarding axes were inspected at the Navy Yard Washing- would have another person conduct the manual labor, but all did ton (NYW), so it appears that location was the primary inspection the inspection themselves and took their die when they stopped location. Some even passed through twice as the one on display inspecting. It was not a practice to leave the die with the inspec- at the Washington Navy Yard Museum has one with an 1852 re-in- tor’s initials around until the new inspector arrived. These dates spection date stamped on the reverse of the initial undated inspec- help us refine the dates for the boarding axes. The Type IIIs are tion. Some Type I and II boarding axes have their manufacturer listed as being from the 1820-1840s in Rankin’s book.39 The Type names stamped on the blade. The majority of the Type II and all III axe on page 3 in Rankin’s Small Arms of the Sea Services was of the Type III boarding axes don’t have a manufacturer’s mark. owned by Norman Flayderman and is listed as being from this This is different than the British boarding axes that frequently have twenty year period. The markings on the axe displayed in subse- a manufacturer’s name or city. Why the change? To date a reason quent pictures clearly show the inspection mark of Joseph Tarbell has not been found in the documents at the National Archives, but at the Washington Navy Yard. The US Navy 1809 Register lists the older records are not well organized and it might take a lucky him as a Masters [sic] Commandant40 and The General Register of day for a blind squirrel to find a letter or document that has been the United States Navy and Marine Corps for One Hundred Years misfiled sometime over the last two centuries. 1782 to 1882 lists that Captain Tarbell died in November 1815.41 So as asked about the boarding pikes, did the ghost of Captain Tar- bell come back during the 1820-1840 period and start inspecting boarding axes? Joseph Tarbell’s service does provide a bit more clarity on the period that the Washington Navy Yard was inspecting the Type III boarding axe. He was appointed a midshipman on 5 December 179842 and served in the Mediterranean Squadron on the USS CONSTITUTION and other ships during the period of 1800-1804. He was honored by Congress for his services under Commodore Preble during the demonstration before Tripoli in Figure 36. Type III blade JT 1804. He was in command of a flotilla of small boats in Norfolk marking, J. Tarbell inspected. under Commodore Stephen Cassin. Tarbell successfully led an expedition against the British from 19 to 23 June 1813 at Craney Island and in the James River; he received a commendation from Commodore Cassin and from the army officers ashore.43 Tarbell was promoted to Captain on 24 July 1813 and died in Norfolk in 1815.44 Based on the dates and locations above he would be available for inspecting the Type III boarding axes sometime during the period of 1805 through 1812. Tarbell was promoted to Master Commandant on 25 April 180845 and he commanded the United States Ship of War JOHN ADAMS in 1809.46

Figure 38. British broad arrow marking.

Figure 37. NYNY (Navy Yard New York) 1852 reinspection marking.

120/17 No specific dates of the start of the Type II and Type III board- There were several bidders in 1816 for manufacturing boarding ing axes are given and there are no separate entries for the differ- axes so we have an idea of the locations that had the capability to ent Types in any arsenal or ship inventories that have been found make them. It is interesting to see the spread of prices that were to date. Therefore the stamped marks are a great help to identify offered: 62.5 cents to $7 per axe. Since Henry Deringer was a bid- the dates for the Type I and Type III boarding axes. There appear der, does that mean the Deringer collectors now need to search for to be a several deliveries of each type since there are variations a brass boarding axe to have a “complete collection of Deringers”? of the markings. Type I boarding axes are marked with F Hoff- • Caton, MA (Daniel Dan, Adam Kinsley, & Charles Leonard) man or just Hoffman or VIM. Type III boarding axes have some $7 each differences on the use of the period after the US or WNY initials. Variations in the individual markings occur when they are hand • Richmond, VA ( Elijah Brown) $2.50 each stamped; similar to period swords or flintlocks that were delivered • Philadelphia, PA (Henry Deringer) Brass Tomahawks to the Government. Remember that the Type III axes have two $2.50 each variants (identified above) for the peace pipe tomahawk support • Philadelphia, (Fred Hoffman) $1 each where the axe meets the support around the haft. Another previously unreported variant is the top cap of the Type III boarding • Georgetown, DC (Isaac Hoglan) axe. There are solid caps and split caps. The difference is the solid $0.95 Navy battle axes and $0.75 boarding axes cap will have both langets and when combined with the axe and • Washington, DC (Sam Johnson) pick will have two metal pieces. The split cap will have a single $0.62½ Navy battle axes49 langet on each piece and when combined with the axe and pick will have three metal pieces. There are four known solid caps and Conclusion two of them are the reinforced peace pipe tomahawk style and two The War of 1812 is approximately the height of the Navy’s use are the unreinforced connection. All of these variations indicate of boarding pikes and axes. There were still numerous engage- several shipments from a few manufacturers over a period of time. ments where the two opposing vessels pulled within close prox- The Type Is were the first ones delivered but there does not appear imity to allow boarding actions. The improved technology of to a clear cut line of when the Type IIs and IIIs were introduced.47 ironclads, subsequent metal hulled ships and their longer ranged So it was very likely that all three were carried aboard the US Na- cannon made the wooden sailing ships and their boarding pikes vy’s vessels during the War. The Type Is and IIs were from at least and axes obsolete. They were weapons that could cause a lot of before the War started and the Type IIIs were definitely introduced damage to an enemy and were very effective for relatively simple prior to the end of the War. metal and wood weapons. For their period of use the boarding axes and boarding pikes were uncomplicated weapons that al- Where made lowed the US sailors to be highly effective in close quarters. They Many of the boarding axes were made in Philadelphia. Fred were easily produced within the manufacturing capabilities of the Hoffman was based there48 and the reinforced style Type III axes fledgling nation. The growing US Navy did not have to import are similar to peace pipe tomahawks manufacturer in the area. The axes or pikes unlike it did with many sword blades or gun locks tomahawks were made from the 1780s through the early 1800s. It during the period. These weapons definitely deserve a higher level seems different that they were some of the later axes since the rein- of respect in the arms collecting community. forcement style was used prior to the first order of the Type I axes in 1797, but it could be that the winner of a later contract pulled out an old pattern and modified it to meet the new requirements. The Washington Navy Yard Museum has a Type III boarding axe on display with the citation that they were made at the Washington Navy Yard in 1800-1810. Their axe has the traditional markings for the initial inspection and on the reverse has an ORD’CE and 1852 [mislabeled on the display as 1832] for its re-inspection during inventory or refurbishment. The documentation provided for the 1800-1810 manufacturing of axes at the WNY is a Flayder- man catalog that states the axe is from the 1800-1810 period. If they were manufactured at the Washington Navy Yard it is very interesting that there are three variants of the axe – solid cap, split cap and the reinforced socket bowl. One would not typically consider that many variants to be coming from a sole manufacturing site. Until a more primary source of the manufacturing site is provided, it appears that the axes inspected at the WNY were not manufactured there.

120/18 Endnotes 19 Bazelon, Bruce S. and William F. McGuinn, A Directory of 1 Kauffman, Henry J., American Axes – A Survey of Their De- American Military Goods Dealers & Makers 1785-1915 A velopment and Their Makers, Masthof Press, 2007. Combined Edition, Typesetting & Publishing Inc, 1999. Pages 209 and 258. 2 Peterson, Harold L., Notes on Tomahawks, Hatchets and Boarding Axes used by Americans, American Society of Arms 20 Brown, Rodney Hilton, 1967. Pg 145. Collectors, Number 6, Fall 1962. 21 Rankin, Colonel Robert H., 1972. Pg 6. 3 Peterson, Harlold L., American Indian Tomahawks, Museum 22 Brown, Rodney Hilton, 1967. Pgs 143-146. of the American Indian Hey Foundation, 1965. 23 Maclay, Edgar Stanton, A History of the United States Navy 4 Gilkerson, William, Boarders Away with Steel – Edged Weap- Volume I, D. Appleton and Company, 1893 [J.O. Davidson’s ons & Polearms, Andrew Mowbray, Inc., 1991. illustration “Boarding the Philadelphia”] Pg 265. 5 Rankin, Colonel Robert H., Small Arms of the Sea Services, N. 24 Gilkerson, William, 1991. Pg 68. Flayderman & Co., 1972. 25 Gilkerson, William, No Quarter for the Quarter Pike, Man at 6 Brown, Rodney Hilton, American Polearms 1526-1865, The Arms Magazine, Mowbray Publishing, July/August 1984. Pgs Lance, Halberd, Spontoon, Pike, and Naval Boarding Weap- 27-31. ons, N. Flayderman & Co., 1967. 26 Harris, John to Joshua Fox, Discussion of Armaments for Frig- 7 Gilkerson, William, 1991. Pg 66 ate & Naval Personnel, letter dated 11 August 1797. Warde- 8 Kochan, James L., Free Trade and Sailors Rights: The War of partmentpapers.org/s/home/media/88540 accessed 24 Novem- 1812 and the Shaping of America Part One: The War on the ber 2019 Eastern Seaboard and the War at Sea, The Mars & Neptune 27 There have been several quarter pikes for sale over the years Press, 2012. Pg 37, and researching them brought up some information that con- 9 Dudley, Dr. William S. with Dr. J. Scott Harmon, The Naval tradicted the claims of the sellers. My discussions with the War of 1812 “America’s Second War of Independence” Col- Washington Navy Yard Museum led me to the US Naval Acad- lections of William I. Koch and the U.S. Naval Academy Mu- emy Museum, which reportedly had two quarter pikes. Ad- seum, The Donning Company Publishers, 2013. Pg 106. ditionally one of the dealers had a copy of a letter from the US Naval Academy Museum that discussed having some quarter 10 Gilkerson, William, used with permission (The Ship Jason of pikes in their collection. Since that letter was written, the US Boston with her boarding nettings rigged; from a water color Naval Academy Museum determined that the quarter pikes made by Antoine Roux in 1802) Pg 52. were not period weapons and had de-accessed the two that 11 Ray, William, The Horrors of Slavery, or the American Tars in had been in their collection. That is a rare circumstance since Tripoli, Oliver Lyon Printer for the Author, 1808. [Second page normally once an item is in the federal museum system it is of Chapter VII, Exercising the Ship if you have a reprint]. Pg not de-accessed, it may not be on display but it remains in the 70. federal museum system. Additionally, research at the National Archives and at Federal War papers website noted that there 12 Toll, Ian W., Six Frigates The Epic History of the Founding of were some inventories with an entry for boarding pikes and the U.S. Navy, W. W. Norton & Company, 2006. Pg 210. some inventories that had an entry for boarding pikes/quarter 13 Gilkerson, William, 1991. Pg 66. pikes. In other words several entries combined these two dif- 14 National Archives, Subject File U.S. Navy 1775-1910, BH ferent pike lengths into a single entry while other items like Handweapons, RG 45, Entry #502, Box 149 Folder O-1859; different sized flints were listed in separate entries. Similar letter dated 15 Nov 1797 signed Samuel Hodgden coverage is found in Gilkerson, William, “No Quarter for the Quarter Pike, Man at Arms Magazine”, Mowbray Publishing, 15 Page 48, National Archives, RG 45 Records Collection of the July/August 1984. Office of Naval Records and Library;Records Created and Or- ganized by the Office of the Naval Records and Library Led- 28 The Mariners’ Museum and Park, https://catalogs.mariners- ger of Military and Naval Supplies Received and Delivered at museum.org/object/CL2815, accessed 24 November 2019. Philadelphia and of Clothing Received Jan 1797 – Sept 1831; 29 Gilkerson, William, 1991. Pg 144. E-566 I-18 Vol 1 of 1; Stack 11W4 Row 12 Compart 8 Shelf 2 30 Hodgdon, Samuel and William Irvine, Register of Estimated (this was misfiled from Row 18, Comp 6, Shelf 3) Requirements for Military Supplies / Estimate of the Cost of 16 Fox, Joshua, Estimate of Building, Rigging and Equipping Articles for the Frigate Constellation, unknown transcriber three Ships of War to carry 22, 20, and 16 guns together with for the aces posting, https://wardepartmentpapers.org/s/home/ the cost of Manning and victualling the same for 12 months, item/57858, accessed 29 Feb 2020. document dated 29 March 1798. Wardepartment papers.org/s/ 31 Gilkerson, William, 1991. Pg 43. home/etem/61703 accessed 24 November 2019 32 Woodward, Arthur, “The Metal Tomahawk”, The Bulletin of 17 Brown, Rodney Hilton, 1967. Pg 146. The Fort Ticonderoga Museum, Volume VII, No. 3, January 18 Hamersly, Thomas H. S., General Register of the United States 1946. Pg 21. Navy and Marine Corps, Arranged in Alphabetical Order For 33 Gilkerson, William, 1991. Pg 45. One Hundred Years (1782-1882), Thomas H. S. Hamersly Publisher, 1882. Pg 698. 34 Peterson, Harlold L. 1991. 1965. 120/19 35 Gilkerson, William, 1991. Pg 47. 43 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, online from 36 National Archives, RG 45 Records Collection of the Office of the Naval Historical Center, Tarbell (Destroyer No. 142), Naval Records and Library;Records Created and Organized by https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/ the Office of the Naval Records and Library Ledger of Military danfs/t/tarbell.html, accessed 29 Feb 2020. and Naval Supplies Received and Delivered at Philadelphia 44 Mechlin & Winder, 1848. page 131 and of Clothing Received Jan 1797 – Sept 1831; E-566 I-18 45 Mechlin & Winder, 1848. page 131 Vol 1 of 1; Stack 11W4 Row 12 Compart 8 Shelf 2 (this was misfiled from Row 18, Comp 6, Shelf 3) Page 48. 46 Allen, Andrew J., 1809. Page 4. 37 Johnson, WIlliam, Gunner’s Stores Inventory for the United 47 Reputedly, there is a maker marked Type II axe, but it has not States Frigate CONSTELLATION 20 January 1802, Philadel- been examined by the author. phia. (author’s collection). 48 Bruce S. and William F. McGuinn, A Directory of American 38 Woodward, Arthur, 1946. Pg 22. Military Goods Dealers & Makers 1785-1915 A Combined Edition, Typesetting & Publishing Inc, 1999. Pages 209. 39 Rankin, Colonel Robert H., 1973. Pg 3. 49 Peterson, Harlold L., 1965. Pg 45 & Chapter XXII, 40 Allen, Andrew J., A List of the American Navy, Andrew J Allen Stationer, 1809. 41 Hamersly, Thomas H. S., General Register of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, Arranged in Alphabetical Order For One Hundred Years (1782-1882), Thomas H. S. Hamersly Publisher, 1882. Pg 698. 42 Mechlin & Winder, A General Register of the Navy and Ma- rine Corps of the United States, C. Alexander Printer, 1848, Page 131.

Special Notes Photos are by the author with the exception of Figures 2 and 5 by Pike in Figures 2 and 5 are from the Guidi Collection. Pikes and P. Guidi; Figures 21, 23, 25, 35 and 36 by a private collector; and axes in Figures 21, 21, 25, 35, and 36 are from a private collection. Figures 1, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 13b, 16, 22, 24, 27, 33, 34, and 38 are by Axe in Figure 39 is from the Washington Navy Yard’s Collection. J. Thillman.

120/20